Stoma Irrigation

Hi superfly

I don't have the experience you're looking for but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Replying to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list where hopefully someone with the right experience will see it.

As this group is fairly quiet at the moment you could also post your query in the bowel cancer group, which is very active, as there will probably be someone there who can help you further.

x

Hi superfly I’ve just sent you a pm. Anyway, Irrigation is a complete life changer and you need to give your bowel time to adapt. Are you having more success now as I see you posted a few weeks ago? Irrigation is a complete game changer and I’ve learnt a lot myself over the last two years. First it takes a couple of months to train your bowel. The following are quite important in the beginning but actually long term too.

This is what I have learnt from experience.

The amount of water you use, it’s not an enema! You’re trying to initiate peristalsis and if you just trickle water over your stoma you can get a reaction, if you you use too much, you’ll get more output an hour or two later which is watery, I use 300/500/750ml depending on he first response. The amount of water depends on how much colon has been removed.

The temperature, 36-38’ (mine is always 38 even if I have to top up) too cold and your stoma will hibernate, I use an irypump and that has a temperature strip but I still use a second thermometer as a back up and also feel the temperature of the water before I insert the cone.

How you infuse the water, too much at once and you’ll just overwhelm your bowel, start with a small amount and clear the entrance, you should get a response pretty quickly!  If the water is squirting out just take a couple of deep breaths as quite often your stoma will tighten up and you’ll find it will relax if you breathe in slowly. 

There’s a lot to learn and everyone I know does it slightly differently. You should be able to get 24 hours clear and some people get 36/48.  There’s a useful dvd you can buy from colostomy uk for £1.99 but you might have found this by now. 

Good luck. 

Hi Ewok good to hear from you again. I am not really having much success but am quickly realising that whilst some people are lucky and adapt to irrigation quickly, it doesn't work like that for everyone so I need to be patient and persevere. Your advice about the amount of water is sound, as I have been literally pumping in water and probably too much. I will take your advice and try adding it more slowly- quality rather than quantity! Yes, I haven't been paying too much attention to the water temperature so will give that a go as well.  I got 36 hours the first time I tried it but am now averaging 12 plus hours so I am clearly doing something wrong. Will try out your tips and check out the video. thanks again, cheers for now S 

Sorry , wasn't ignoring you and thanks for the message. I have discovered a brilliant Facebook group that has irrigationers all over the world and have been getting great feedback from there. I think my question was a little niche for this forum but thanks agin for your suggestion, cheers